Tuesday 13 August 2019

Books About Homeschooling {Not Back to School Blog Hop 2019}


Welcome to day two of the Not Back to School Homeschool Review Crew Blog Hop.  Today on the Crew blog Stephanie is sharing 4 Tips for Your New (Home)School Year. Yesterday we talked about ART in Your Homeschool and today I would like to share about two new books I've been reading. These two books have been encouraging and equipping me on my home education journey and have deeply impacted my life this year.

Teaching From Rest a Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Teaching From Rest A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Format Hardback | 89 pages
Dimensions 146.05 x 215.9 x 6.35mm | 163.29g
Publication date 15 Sep 2015
Publisher Classical Academic Press
Language English
ISBN10 1600512879
ISBN13 9781600512872

I was gifted this amazing book by a wonderful homeschool Mom whom I met a few years ago and has become an encouraging friend. It was a book on my to read list and recently I added it to my Audible play list in which Sarah reads the book to her audience.

As a veteran homeschooling Mom I am ever so grateful for this beautiful encouraging book.  I have been feeling exhausted and on the edge of burn out for a while now and this book has spoken to my weary home school Mom heart.  Sarah has encouraged me in a deep abiding way.  Her conversational tone is a balm to all home educating Mom's the world over. I have learnt so much from Sarah about living and teaching from a state of rest and what it truly means to do so. 

Publishers Summary - "Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for them and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home. Yet so many parents (mainly mothers) who have taken up this challenge find the enterprise often full of stress, worry, and anxiety. In this practical, faith-based, and inspirational book, Sarah Mackenzie addresses these questions directly, appealing to her own study of restful learning and her struggle to bring restful learning to her (six) children."

You can download 3 Free Sample Chapters over at Read-Aloud Revival. 

 Think Learn Succeed by Dr.Caoline Leaf

Format Paperback | 320 pages
Dimensions 140 x 216 x 25mm | 379g Publication date 31 Jul 2018
Publisher Baker Publishing Group
Imprint Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Publication City/Country Ada, MI, United States
Language English
Edition Statement ITPE
Illustrations note Illustrations, black and white
ISBN10 0801093619
ISBN13 9780801093616

This book has changed the way I approach learning and how I teach.  It has inspired and equipped me to be the best I can be and how to help my students.  I highly recommend that every single person read this book.  It will help you not only understand yourself and your potential but understand your children, your spouse and every person you encounter every single day of your life. I have had a few homeschooling learning myths dispelled and I have been empowered with tools to help myself and my students.  This book has the potential to change everyone who reads it!

Publishers Summary: "Our thought lives have incredible power over our mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. In fact, our thoughts can either limit us to what we believe we can do or release us to experience abilities well beyond our expectations. When we choose a mindset that extends our abilities rather than placing limits on ourselves, we will experience greater intellectual satisfaction, emotional control, and physical health. The only question is . . . how? Backed by up-to-date scientific research and biblical insight, Dr. Caroline Leaf empowers readers to take control of their thoughts in order to take control of their lives. In this practical book, readers will learn to use

 - The 5-step Switch on Your Brain Learning Program, to build memory and learn effectively
- The Gift Profile, to discover the unique way they process information
- The Mindfulness Guide, to optimise their thought life and find their inner resilience

 Dr. Leaf shows readers how to combine these powerful tools in order to improve memory, learning, cognitive and intellectual performance, work performance, physical performance, relationships, emotional health, and most importantly a meaningful life well lived. 

Each of us has significant psychological resources at our fingertips that we can use in order to improve our overall well-being. Dr. Leaf shows us how to harness those resources to unlock our hidden potential."

 In the past I have shared and still recommend

I would love to hear which books you recommend for Homeschool Mom's to read.

Blessings
Chareen


There are over thirty home educating mom's participating in this years Not back to School Blog Hop.  Grab a cup of tea and take a look through the linky below for some homeschool Encouragement today.
 

Art in Your Homeschool {Not Back to School Blog Hop 2019}

Welcome to day one of the annual Homeschool Review Crew Not Back to School Blog Hop.  Today's topic is A = Art in Your Homeschool.  I have a confession to make.  I have a love hate relationship with art in our homeschool.  Today I would like to share a list of books, web resources and Art Curriculum that we have used over the last two decades to teach art in our homeschool.



During my time with the Homeschool Review Crew we have been introduced to some amazing products which have made adding Art to our Homeschool so much easier. Here are a few we have enjoyed over the years and are well worth investing in:
  •  ArtAchieve - There are five year levels available.  You are able to purchase single lessons of any project you would like to use in your homeschool.  The lessons are presented in different formats (PowerPoint or video) by John Hofland.  Every lesson has a comprehensive lesson plan available covering many aspects on the topic at hand. Be sure to try a FREE lesson with ArtAchieve: FREE Level I-Art Lesson I-2: The Czech Cat "There is no right or wrong way to draw. One drawing is not better than another.  It's just different - because the people who are drawing are different "- John (ArtAchieve)
  • See The Light -  We have loved using the video based lessons.  Each video contains three step by step lessons.  Lessons are in a step by step format and available as downloads or DVD.  You can request your free lesson from here. We have really enjoyed the Art Projects series and learnt so many great things from pop art (Repeated Sweets - Wayne Thiebaud Artist Study) to pointillism fruit.
  • Last year we did a series of art pieces via the on line art lessons using Creating a Masterpiece. I really liked the way each lesson is broken up into shorter step by step lessons making it easy to accomplish really complex pieces over a number of days or weeks. You can try a free lesson over here.
  • We have also done numerous different art projects and show cased them here on the blog along with links to the source tutorials via the Virtual Fridge
  • SchoolhouseTeachers.com has some  fabulous Art Classes for your homeschool. These lessons are specifically designed to be used in your home.

The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective is an amazing text to use to teach art history.

If you have students that are interested in learning Natural History Illustration be sure to check out the FREE edX course: Drawing Nature, Science and Cultrue: Natural History Illustration 101.

Mondrian Inspired Art
Over the years we have completed a few Artist Unit Studies:

Art Resources on line

 Beautiful Books on Studying Artists
(Libraries are an excellent resource to teach for FREE)
On Pinterest
Picture Study Resources
I asked some homeschool friends what they would recommend and they said:
I would love to hear what YOU have used to teach art in your homeschool.

Blessings
Chareen


There are over thirty home educating mom's participating in this years Not back to School Blog Hop.  Grab a cup of tea and take a look through the linky below for some homeschool Encouragement today.

Friday 2 August 2019

ABC of Homechooling {Not Back to School Blog Hop}

I have had the most wonderful few weeks.  For my birthday my family gifted me a very precious week with my homeschool and life friend Jenny in New Zealand.  One of the most amazing and unplanned happenings was meeting up with three other ladies who were all home educating with me two decades ago!  Between us we have over a century of homeschooling experience.  I was so blessed by each and everyone of these woman!


When we began home educating there was very little on the Internet, no computer programs to homeschool with, we had curriculum catalogues and each others experience.  Today we have the world at our finger tips courtesy of the www.

I have been privileged over the past few years to work alongside incredible home educating families who have a passion to share their homeschool experiences with the homeschooling community over at the Homeschool Review Crew.

Each year these wonderful woman gather together to encourage the home educating community and this year they are busy preparing to share and encourage you during the week of the 12th of August in the Annual Not Back to Homeschool Blog Hop.

Here is a sneak peak at some of the topics being shared during the week:
  • Year-Round Homeschooling
  • Eclectic Homeschooling
  • ABC of Homeschooling
  • Adding Fun to Your Homeschooling
  • Large Family Homeschooling
  • A Quest for a Great Homeschool Year
  • Looking Back on Homeschooling High School
  • Homeschool Life Skills
  • Homeschooling with Autism
  • Homeschool High School
  • Favourite Homeschool Things
  • Relaxed Homeschooling
  • Upper Grade Homeschooling
 I am looking forward to hearing from my fellow Crew members.  Over the past few years I have participated in a few 5 Days of ... blog hops and really enjoyed the experience.

This year I will be writing about the ABC of Homeschooling
  • A = Art in your homeschool
  • B = Books about homeschooling
  • C = Charlotte Mason
  • D =Don't Change a Thing
  • E =Encouragement for the Year Ahead
Mark your calendar and be sure to pop on over daily for some home school encouragement and equipping.

Blessings
Chareen
PS if you are on Pinterest be sure to follow the 2019 Annual Not Back to School Homeschool Blog Hop Board for homeschool encouragement and inspiration.